Ozzy Osbourne, the king of heavy metal, dies at 76.

Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman and a central figure in the birth of heavy metal, has died at the age of 76, three weeks after his farewell concert. His family announced in a statement: "It is with greater sadness than words can express that we have to announce that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love."

Born in Birmingham, United Kingdom, Osbourne had a tough childhood in a working-class family that suffered financial hardship, and was repeatedly sexually abused by two children. All of this in a gray, smoky, industrial city shaped his character and, by extension, the sound of Black Sabbath, founded in 1969.

With them, he rose to fame in the 1970s, a pioneering metal band with classics like "Paranoid," "Iron Man," and "War Pigs." His solo career was also a resounding success, with songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley."

Nicknamed the "Prince of Darkness," his life was marked by excesses, scandals, and endless urban legends. Not for nothing was he also known as "The Madman," a nickname he earned after biting the head off a bat on stage, and after starring in less hilarious incidents, such as the attempted murder of his wife during a night of hyperbolic drug abuse.

He suffered from Parkinson's disease and had suffered from other health issues in recent years, including complications from injuries sustained in a fall in 2019. After being forced to cancel his tour, he made a one-off surprise appearance on stage in Birmingham to close the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The farewell concert at Villa Park, which featured star-studded guests including Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Pantera, Slayer, Tool, Alice in Chains, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Anthrax and Mastodon, was announced earlier this year by his wife Sharon, who said Ozzy was determined to give fans the "perfect send-off."

Throughout his career, Osbourne was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame and the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, both with Black Sabbath and as a solo artist. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—as well as on Broad Street in Birmingham—an Ivor Novello Award, and five Grammy Awards from 12 nominations. Over the years, he has received other accolades from the trade press, including the NME's "Godlike Genius" and the Classic Rock "Living Legend." He was also the star of the hit family reality show The Osbournes and the founder of the Ozzfest festival.

Despite battling health problems for years, Ozzy left an indelible mark on rock history. His legacy lives on in generations of musicians and fans who found in him a rebellious and eternal voice.